November 2015 TBR

Posted in Wrap Ups And TBRs by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Happy November, everybody!

I absolutely cannot believe how quickly this year has flown by! Sadly, my favorite month of the year has drawn to a close, but these next few months are just as exciting. First of all, we start the build up to the holiday season. I sing in a church choir, so we spend the next two months singing all of my favorite music of the choral season.

November, as I’m sure you all know, is also the start of NaNoWriMo. This is my sixth year doing it, but will be my first year trying to do it while also blogging, so it’ll be interesting to see how this all goes. NaNoWriMo is one of my favorite parts of every year, and I can’t wait to get started on my new novel!

As far as a TBR, I still have a few books from my previous ones that I would like to work on. However, my reading mood has definitely changed a bit, and there are a couple of books that I also need to read and review this month. As always, a TBR for me is more of a helpful suggestion than something set in stone that I really stick to. It works nicely for prioritizing my entirely too massive pile of unread books. So here are some of the books that I am most eager to read/need to get to in the coming weeks!

November TBR:

1. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

I still have yet to read anything by Brandon Sanderson, though the Mistborn trilogy is high on my priority list. Since I have so many books to read right now, I think I would rather hold off on The Final Empire for a little while longer until I get through some of them. However, this novel is a much more manageable size for me currently. I am also just generally very intrigued by the premise of this novel, so I’m eager to see what it’s all about.

2. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

This is one of my most anticipated books of the year and I finally have it in my possession! I have been hearing such amazing things about this novel, which has just been making me more enthusiastic about reading it. And may I just say, the book itself is absolutely beautiful!

3. Beastly Bones by William Ritter

I read the first book in this series, Jackaby, at the beginning of the year and absolutely loved it! So of course, as soon as I finished, I put this on preorder right away. I’m excited to see where these stories go and to get back into the world of these lovable characters. It should be a fun, quick read and I am definitely hoping to get to this very soon.

Click here to check out my review of Jackaby!

4. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This is a book I just discovered this year and have heard nothing but wonderful things about. I got it out of the library a few months back, but didn’t have enough time to get to it. So I recently picked up a copy and I’m definitely hoping to finally get to it this month. It sounds like it will be a sad but extremely good read, and I can’t wait to see what I think of it.

5. Saga, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

This will most likely be my first read of the month. I honestly can’t believe that I haven’t gotten around to this yet. It has been out for at least a month and a half now and I still need to read it. I’ve had it on hold at the library for quite a while and it’s finally available for me to check out, so I’ll probably be getting to this in the next day or so. I’m so excited to see what happens next!

6-8. Doctor Who: Deep Time by Trevor Baxendale, Doctor Who: Death Riders by Justin Richards, and Doctor Who: System Wipe by Oli Smith

These are all books that I have recently gotten through Netgalley, so I would like to get them all read and reviewed by the end of the month. I’d particularly like to get those last two done because they come out toward the second half of November. They should all be quick and entertaining reads, and I’m always up for anything Doctor Who related!

Here are some of the books that I have acquired over the last few months as well as my most anticipated releases of November!

September/October Book Haul:

1. Beastly Bones by William Ritter

2. The Reluctant Sacrifice by Kerr-Ann Dempster

3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

4. Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

5. The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

6. Doctor Who: Deep Time by Trevor Baxendale

7. Doctor Who: Death Riders by Justin Richards

8. Doctor Who: System Wipe by Oli Smith

Anticipated Releases of November:

1. Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairy Tales by Justin Richards (November 3^rd)

2. Winter by Marissa Meyer (November 10^th)

3. Warren the 13^th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio (November 24^th)

What are you guys planning on reading this month? What new releases are you most looking forward to? Are any of you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

28Oct2015

Top 5 Wednesday – October 28th, 2015

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey at Gingerreadslainey. Every week, book reviewers all over the world are given a bookish topic and respond with their top 5 books (or elements of books) that relate to that topic. Click here for the Goodreads group if you would like to learn more about Top 5 Wednesday and join in!

This week’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is your top five Halloween book recommendations. Since this list is for Halloween, I was trying to think up some good ghost stories to put on here. However, as I was picking books for this topic, I was shocked to realize that I haven’t actually read all that many ghost/monster stories. This is insane because I absolutely love a good, creepy and otherworldly tale. So, since I am severely lacking in the ghost story department, I simply picked five generally creepy novels or stories that I’ve read.

I am a huge thriller/horror fan. I have read a lot of mysteries and psychological thrillers, and I love watching any spooky or thriller type movies. Many of the stories I write usually fall somewhere in the realm of horror as well. I’ve never really gotten scared by any books or movies so far, however, these are all novels that definitely sent a shiver down my spine! Though the books on this list do not all involve a supernatural storyline, they are all still perfect for this spooky time of year.

5. Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

I read this graphic novel around this time last year and enjoyed it so much. It is a collection of five eerie and enthralling horror stories. Emily Carroll has crafted a wonderful collection of ghostly tales that feel sort of likes myths or legends that people might pass around. The artwork, matching the tone of the stories perfectly, is hauntingly beautiful; out of all the graphic novels I’ve read, this had one of my favorite art styles. Through the Woods was such an enjoyable read, and I would highly recommend giving it a try. These dark and chilling tales will definitely put you in the Halloween mood.

4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

I tried to change things up and pick novels for this list that weren’t on my list yesterday, but this is one that I just had to mention again. It is a classic thriller novel, one of the best for all time in my opinion, and is bone-chilling without the use of ghosts and monsters. In fact, stories like this one, where the true monster is human, can make for the most compelling and frightening reads of all.

3. The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe

Basically anything by Edgar Allan Poe makes for a perfect Halloween read. Poe is a master at crafting beautifully written and thoroughly haunting tales that will stay with you long after you read them. My personal favorite stories of his are The Cask of Amontillado, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Masque of the Red Death, and The Tell-Tale Heart.

2. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Back when Coraline first came out, a family member of mine gave it to me as a gift. My mom read it before I did, and it creeped her out so much that she actually hid the book from me. And of course, me being me, I subsequently snuck into her room, found it, and read it anyway without my parents knowing…but that’s beside the point! This is one of the most disturbing and unique books I have ever read, and I absolutely adore it. It is the book that first made me a fan of Neil Gaiman, who has been a huge inspiration to me in my own writing. His stories are quite strange and they are probably not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think that they are just fantastic and definitely perfect for Halloween!

1. The Shining by Stephen King

What Halloween reads list would be complete without one of the best horror novels of all time? This hair-raising and unsettling horror classic, written by one of the masters of the genre, is an absolute must-read. The Shining is genuinely terrifying, by far the scariest book that I’ve ever read, and it is one of my long-time favorites. I cannot recommend it highly enough! Though I do enjoy the original film as well, I would highly suggest, if you want to watch a production of this novel, watching the miniseries version from the 90’s with Steven Weber. Stephen King played a much bigger role in the making of this adaptation, so it is a lot closer to the actual novel itself.

What are your top favorite Halloween reads? Do you have any scary/spooky novels or short stories that you would recommend? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

27Oct2015

Top 10 Tuesday – October 27th, 2015

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It’s time for another Top 10 Tuesday list. This is an original weekly blog meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week, there is a new bookish topic for bloggers to create a list about. If you want to know more about Top 10 Tuesday, click here!

I can’t believe we are already reaching the end of October! This week’s Top 10 Tuesday topic is a Halloween themed freebie; we can make up any Halloween related list that we want. Because I couldn’t decide between two topic ideas, I decided to include the second as a bonus part to this post. The first list is ten fall/Halloween reads that are not necessarily spooky but are still perfect for this time of year. The second part is my top ten favorite creepy book covers.

Part One: Fall/Halloween Reads

1. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness – I picked this up last fall and it is definitely one of the best novels I have ever read. This novel ended up being absolutely nothing like what I had originally suspected it would be. I picked this to read near Halloween because it seemed like it would be a scary story focusing on ghosts or other supernatural monsters. Instead, it deals with a very different but equally frightening type of monster. It is a very dark and sad but ultimately beautiful story. This is a very surprising, creative, and absolutely gorgeously written novel that I cannot recommend enough.

2. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman – This would not be a true Halloween themed list if I did not add at least one Neil Gaiman novel to it! He is one of my favorite authors and really, any of his books could be put on a list such as this; however, this is my personal favorite and the one I would recommend the most. The Ocean at the End of the Lane really had that tone that I always look for in my reads at this time of year. Though I did not find it particularly scary, it’s strange and a bit dark and creepy, and the story is extremely captivating. It’s an incredibly unique tale and reads sort of like a myth or legend, which made it even more intriguing.

3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – As the weather cools and the days grow shorter, there’s nothing like reading a good mystery novel. Gone Girl is an incredibly dark and disturbing story, full of surprising twists and unreliable narration; it’s a picture of insanity with frighteningly realistic characters and scenarios. This may not be a typical Halloween ghost story rooted in the world of the supernatural, but it shows that the natural world can be equally as chilling. Click here for my full, spoiler-free review.

4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – Of course Agatha Christie has to make the list! And Then There Were None is a story about ten strangers, each with a secret, who are brought together on a private island for a weekend by an anonymous host and are killed off one by one. In this novel, everyone is a suspect. This is not only one of my favorite novels of all time, but one of the best examples of a creepy story, perfect for Halloween, that doesn’t involve the supernatural.

5. Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury – By this point, I’m sure you are seeing a pattern: here is another one of my all time favorite novels! This story focuses on two young boys whose town is visited by an evil carnival that appears suddenly one night. It brilliantly captures the mood of fall, and the plot fits the Halloween season well with its various oddities and magical realism. This novel is a spectacularly written tale, one that everyone should read at least once in their life; and what better time to read it than the end of October? I would very highly recommend checking out the film as well!

6. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman – Switching gears for a minute, I thought I would throw in one of my favorite, creepy short stories. This is an intriguing story, the ultimate psychological drama. It is told in a journal format, a secret journal kept by a woman whose doctor and husband have forbade her from writing. She is being confined to her room, not permitted to doing anything but sit there, and she begins to imagine a world that’s hiding behind the yellow wallpaper covering her walls. This is such a gripping and eerie story, very fitting for the season.

7. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – I just had to add another Agatha Christie novel to this list because not only is she one of my favorite authors, but also her novels are truly perfect for Halloween. This is a story starring her famous detective, Hercule Poirot, and is probably one of her most well-known and loved works. It is about a train that is stopped one night by a snowdrift, and in the morning, a man is found stabbed in his cabin, the door still locked from the inside. It is a fascinating mystery and one that definitely has a creepy, Halloween mood!

8. 1984 by George Orwell – 1984 portrays a dystopian world that is absolutely terrifying to imagine. This novel is also a bit frightening due to its relevance and connection to society today. Though it is unlikely that we will ever reach the point that the world has reached in this story, there is just the right amount of realism and personal narrative in it to make it something that the reader can connect to and imagine easily.

9. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle – I chose The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes because it’s my favorite so far, however, any of the Sherlock Holmes novels would work. This is one book that may seem a little out of place on this list, but I personally think that fall is a wonderful time of year to be reading these stories. As I’ve already said, it’s the perfect time to be reading a good mystery, and these are some of the best. Full of suspense and intrigue, this is a novel that is wonderful to curl up by the fire with in the cooler months. Click here for my full, spoiler-free review.

10. Hamlet by William Shakespeare – This may seem like another strange one to add to this list, but I feel like this tale has the perfect atmosphere for this time of year. There’s mystery, insanity, murder, revenge, a ghost, everything you could possibly want for a good fall/Halloween read. Plus, it’s one of the best, if not the best, plays of all time.

Part Two: Favorite Covers

Shutter by Courtney Alameda
Asylum by Madeleine Roux
A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero
Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Slasher Girls and Monster Boys edited by April Genevieve Tucholke
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
The Diviners by Libba Bray

What are your favorite Halloween reads? Any creepy cover designs you like? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

25Oct2015

The TBR Book Tag

Posted in Tags by TheQuirkyBookNerd

I was tagged by the lovely Zezee over at Zezee with Books. Thank you so much for tagging me! You should all go head over and check out her fantastic blog if you haven’t already.

This is the perfect tag for me to do! My TBR is massive and always growing, especially since I have now started blogging. I’m always discovering new novels through my reader friends and other book bloggers, so I’m constantly adding to it, both on Goodreads and to my physical library. There is no way I’ll always be able to pick just one book for each of these questions!

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

Goodreads is my main method of keeping track of my TBR pile. Not only do I add all the books that have piqued my interest but I also devote a whole shelf to all the books that I actually own. On top of that, I have one shelf to compile the books that I want to get to the soonest and another to list books that I want to review here on my blog. Amazon is another place that I use to keep track of some of my TBR, but only the books that I am most eager to add to my collection.

Is your TBR mostly print or e-book?

My TBR is mostly print books. Though e-books are growing on me and I do see the convenience of them, nothing can compare to holding a physical book; that’s one of the best parts of the reading experience in my opinion. I also love the idea of having a collection of books to fill the shelves of my own personal library. So, though I continue to occasionally expand my e-book library, I still purchase actual physical copies of the majority of my books.

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

Like many, I am most definitely a mood reader. I tend to have a list of a number of books that I am more eager to get to than others, but I find that I cannot create too much of a strict TBR for myself. It is impossible for me to force myself to read something if I’m not in the mood for that type of story. However, sometimes it has to do with the time of year as well. Certain seasons or holidays tend to change my mood. For instance, I tend to read darker and spookier books in the fall, around Halloween, and lighter books in the summer.

A book that’s been on your TBR the longest?

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini – This is the first book that I ever added to my TBR on Goodreads. I love Khaled Hosseini’s work so naturally, I added this back when it first came out; unfortunately, I have not yet had a chance to get to it. This is a book I hope to read very soon.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin – This is probably one of the books that has been both on my Goodreads TBR and in my actual physical TBR pile the longest. I got this back when it first came out, but never got around to reading it. I’ve been putting it off even more lately because of the mixed reviews I have heard about the trilogy as a whole. Nevertheless, I do intend to get to it sometime soon.

A book you recently added to your TBR?

Time at the Top by Edward Ormondroyd – This is a book that my mom absolutely loves and has wanted me to read for years, so I’ve finally added it to my TBR. I’ll definitely be giving this a try soon.

This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee – I just discovered this novel a couple weeks ago. I’ve been seeing it on a number of blogs that I read, and so far I’ve only seen positive reviews. It sounds like something that would be right up my alley, so I’m really looking forward to reading it.

A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn – I actually found this from a random ad on Goodreads. It popped up on my homepage one day and when I looked into it, the synopsis sounded pretty intriguing. I’ve seen a lot of good reviews for it as well, so I’m very interested to see what I think.

Soulless by Gail Carriger – This is a novel that I have been seeing at the bookstore for years but keep passing by. Between the rave reviews I have read on blogs and heard on Booktube, I figured I should finally give this book a read!

A book on your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover?

I do not have any books on my TBR that are on there solely because they have a beautiful cover. However, I do have a lot of books that I absolutely adore the covers of, so I picked out a few of my favorite ones. These are all books whose covers are the main thing that drew me to them in the first place.

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading?

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard – This is a book that I got a copy of a while back when I first started watching the television show. However, I stopped watching the show around season 3 and since then have sort of lost interest in this book. This is by no means a book that I definitely never plan on reading; I don’t think I have any books on my TBR I could say that about. But it is very low priority on my reading list, and there is a chance that I may never pick it up.

An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for?

Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh – I read and fell in love with her first book, Hyperbole and a Half, (and subsequently the blog of the same name) early last year, and I am absolutely dying to get my hands on this. I have had this preordered for ages now, and I am incredibly sad that the release date got pushed from the end of this year until next April. I can’t wait that long!

Winter by Marissa Meyer – If you have read the many posts where I babble on about my love for Marissa Meyer and The Lunar Chronicles, then this should come as no surprise. This is one of my most anticipated novels of the year!

A book on your TBR that everyone has read but you?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – As I’ve said before, I am pretty sure I am one of the only people on the planet who has not read this book yet. I keep meaning to do so and then I end up putting it off. But no more! I am determined to get to this book before the end of the year.

A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you?

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs – Not only do I constantly read and hear good reviews of this book on blogs and Booktube, but a number of my friends and family members keep recommending this to me. In particular, my best friend and my mom have both been telling me to read this for years! This is another book I hope to finish before the end of the year.

A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn – Again, if you are a veteran of my blog posts, you will already expect this to be on here. I have quickly become a massive Gillian Flynn fan this year; so obviously, I must read all the books!

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli – This is another book that I have been hearing nothing but wonderful things about. I picked this up right when it first came out and I’ve been waiting for a good time to read it. I’m really in the mood for a funny book right now, so I will be reading this quite soon.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo – This is one of the most recent additions to my TBR, and I am so excited about it. It sounded fantastic to begin with, but I’m even more eager to read it after seeing all the amazing reviews that have been pouring in.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab – It’s a book about supervillains—need I say more? I finally have a copy and I cannot wait to get to it. Hopefully, this will be one of my next reads.

Half a King by Joe Abercrombie- This is another one of my most recent purchases. I saw that a few friends of mine on Goodreads were reading this and decided to check it out. Not only does the plot sound like something I’ll love, but I’ve also read an excerpt from it and the writing is absolutely gorgeous!

How many books are in your Goodreads TBR shelf?

There are 545 books on my Goodreads TBR shelf. *Smiles and shuffles away awkwardly*

I Tag:

Giselle @ Hardwork Boulevard

Jessica @ Mud and Stars

Nora @ Always Keep Reading

T.K. @ Read it or Not Reviews

Anna @ My Bookish Dream

Marian @ Bookception21

20Oct2015

Top 10 Tuesday – October 20th, 2015

Posted in Top 10 Tuesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

This week’s topic is the top ten wishes you’d ask the book genie to grant you. I tried to resist the urge to ask for things like unlimited money to buy books with or the ability to travel through time so I don’t have to wait for new releases (though I wouldn’t mind either!). It took me a while to decide, but here are the top bookish things I would ask the book genie for.

Wish #1: The ability to read faster without my reading experience suffering.

My TBR is growing so quickly and I really wish that I could get through my books faster so I can finally catch up and make room for all the new ones I want to start on. At the moment, I can read fairly fast, but I can’t always get as much from the reading experience if I go about it that way. I’d love to be able to speed up my reading pace and still read with the same proficiency.

Wish #2: For reading to have the same effects on my body as working out.

Now this would be absolutely incredible; why can’t this be a thing? I don’t entirely mind working out (most of the time), but honestly, reading is so much more fun. And I do a lot of it. It’s something I can do for hours each day without getting tired of it. This would, hands down, be the best way to get in shape!

Wish #3: Immunity to reading slumps.

This would really come in handy because I find that, as a definite mood reader, I fall into reading slumps quite easily. I also find that, though I always love consuming a large quantity of books, if I read too much too quickly or don’t make enough progress in the amount of books I complete, my pace tends to slow or stall. I would love to be able to read any type of book at any time without having to worry that I might have difficulties getting into the mood to read.

Wish #4: The ability to travel into any book world I want.

I feel like this is definitely something that most book lovers would absolutely love to be able to do. It would be wonderful to have the chance to fully explore and experience the worlds we read about firsthand. If only we could just open up a novel and tumble through the pages…

Wish #5: The chance to meet and talk shop with some of my favorite authors.

As a writer, I can think of nothing better than getting the opportunity to discuss writing and literature with the authors whose work I enjoy and admire. It would be fantastic to hear about their creative processes and learn any tips and tricks they have to offer. I’d also like to hear more about the writing profession from people who have experience in the field.

Wish #6: A few new collections of Sherlock Holmes short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Out of all of my favorite authors, Arthur Conan Doyle is the one who I wish could produce more works. In particular, I would like more of the Sherlock Holmes short stories to exist. Even though there are many Sherlock Holmes stories and I’ve only read about half of them, I still find myself wishing that there could be more to look forward to because I can’t get enough!

Wish #7: The ability to stop time when I am reading.

It would be great to be able to freeze time whenever I wanted while reading a book; I’d get so much more done that way! I’d never have to worry about trying to squeeze it into my schedule when I get busy. This way, I could just pause everything else and take as much time as I wanted during the day to read.

Wish #8: My own personal multi-story library.

One day, I want to have a huge room in my house to keep all of my books. The only thing that could be better than this would be to have my own personal library-sized space, with multiple levels and cozy places to sit and read.

Wish #9: The chance to read my favorite books again for the first time.

I think this is probably another common wish among bibliophiles. There’s nothing like the feeling of reading an incredible book or series for the first time and falling head over heels in love with it. I’d love to be able to re-experience the feelings that I had when I first read things like Harry Potter or To Kill a Mockingbird. Though I always enjoy re-reading my favorites, nothing can compare to my first time completing them.

Wish #10: To be able to bring my own writing to life for a living.

As well as being a writer I am also an aspiring filmmaker, and I am extremely eager to begin my career as soon as possible. I have always dreamed of seeing my work come to life on screen, and being able to create my own films would be an absolute dream come true.

Suffice it to say, it’s a good thing that the book genie does not actually exist or I might go mad with bookish power!

What would you ask the book genie for? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

14Oct2015

Top 5 Wednesday – October 14th, 2015

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

This week’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is your top five favorite diverse characters. These can be characters that are diverse in race, in sexual orientation, who have disabilities or are struggling with mental illness, etc. Basically, any character that is not seen as often as the typical straight, white, mentally and physically healthy male or female characters that too frequently take center stage in literature.

Having books filled with diverse characters, particularly main characters, is essential because that more accurately reflects the incredibly diverse world that we live in. Every single person in this world is different from each other in some way; no two people are the same. That is something that should be celebrated and represented throughout all literature, but unfortunately, ends up being something that many books out there lack. Thankfully, we are starting to see an increase in character diversity in literature these days.

For my list, I tried to mix things up and pick characters that are each diverse for different reasons. These characters also play important roles in the novels they are from. Here are five of my favorites!

Arthur “Boo” Radley from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Diversity: Mental Illness

To Kill a Mockingbird is filled with diverse characters because diversity and the acceptance (or lack thereof) of that diversity is one of the main themes in the novel. Though there are a number of people that would fit into this list, I decided to go with Boo Radley for an example of a character struggling with mental illness. Due to a childhood of being tormented by his father, Boo has become a recluse, never being seen outside his house. But in the end, he proves to be a kind soul and a true hero despite the toll life has taken on his mind.

Tyrion Lannister from A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Diversity: Genetic Condition

This is a bit of a cheat for me since I’ve actually not yet read A Game of Thrones, but I do watch the show and Tyrion is one of my absolute favorite characters. He is an intelligent man with a sharp mind and an equally sharp wit. This is another book with a sizable amount of diverse characters, but he is one that definitely stands out among the rest. Tyrion is a dwarf, so he is a great example of a diverse character with a physical, genetic condition.

June Iparis from Legend by Marie Lu

Diversity: Ethnicity

Those of you who have read Legend already know what a fantastic and tough character June is. Her incredibly intelligent and attentive mind, strength, and selflessness make her an intriguing, lovable, and kickass heroine. June is a diverse character because she is described as being of mixed ethnicity (Caucasian/Native American).

Cinder from Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer

Diversity: Cyborg/Ethnicity

After reading this book a few months ago, I have completely fallen in love with Cinder and her story. She falls into the category of diverse characters for a few reasons. Cinder is a cyborg (which in itself is fairly diverse) living in a society that looks down on and harshly discriminates against them. She is also ethnically diverse because, as Marissa Meyer describes her, she is of mixed ethnicity (Asian/Caucasian). The entire novel takes place in a fictionalized version of China, so there is a fair amount of character diversity in general throughout this book.

Aristotle and Dante from Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Diversity: Ethnicity/Sexual Orientation

I just recently read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and Ari and Dante have quickly risen up my list of top favorite characters; I couldn’t pick one over the other, so I decided to go with both of them. They both fall into the category of ethnically diverse characters because they are both Mexican. They are also both gay, so they are diverse characters due to their sexual orientations as well.

Which diverse characters are your favorites? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

7Oct2015

Top 5 Wednesday – October 7th, 2015

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

This week’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is your top five favorite graphic novels. I have been a massive fan of superheroes/super villains, particularly those of Marvel, ever since I was a little kid (I blame my dad!). So, over the years, I have read my fair share of comic books. Graphic novels, on the other hand, I’ve only just begun to read in the last year or so. However, in that short time, I have already read some absolutely stellar ones that have made me very excited to delve further into the world of graphic novels.

As both a writer and an artist, I have a huge appreciation for all aspects of comics and graphic novels and the work that goes into creating a good visual narrative. Here are the top five graphic novels I have read so far that I feel have a fantastic combination of textual and visual story.

The Homeland Directive by Robert Venditti and Mike Huddleston

I haven’t heard a lot about this graphic novel and, going into it, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. However, I ended up really loving this story. The synopsis led me to believe that it would be your typical zombie story, but it turned out to be so much more than that. It’s a thriller about biology and government conspiracies, and is full of twists and turns that keep you on your toes until the end. Along with the great plotline, the artwork had a beautiful color scheme and was masterfully drawn, fitting the tone of the story perfectly.

The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil by Stephen Collins

This is another one that I was extremely surprised by. To be honest, I picked it up solely because of the title. And while that is not always the best way to choose something to read, I was not disappointed. It was so weird and unique, and I truly enjoyed it. While it is a very humorous story, there is a more serious and thought-provoking underlying message that I had not expected to get from the novel. Collins’s black and white, cartoon-like art style was very fitting as well. Overall, this ended up being a lovely read.

Seconds by Bryan Lee O’Malley

I have been working my way through the Scott Pilgrim series, so I’ve read a few of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels, but this one has been my favorite by far. This story was so unique and captivating; it has a great mixture of humor and a deeper, more serious message. I love his art style as well; it’s quirky and colorful and so fun to look at. I secretly dream about being able to write and draw my own comic or graphic novel, and his work just inspires me further.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

This is one of my most recent reads and is really more of a tie for first place than second place among my favorites because this graphic novel was absolutely fantastic! It is centered on a notorious super villain and his shape-shifting sidekick, so I knew instantly that this would be right up my alley. The story is hilarious, sad, and heartwarming, and a complete joy to read. On top of that, Stevenson’s colorful and whimsical artwork is spot on and fits the feel of the narrative perfectly. She is another author/artist who has become an inspiration for me in my own work. I very highly recommend checking this story out.

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Solid and engrossing narrative. Absolutely stunning artwork. This graphic novel series really has it all! I had been hearing people rave about this series for a long time, so I was eager to pick it up, and I ended up loving it even more than I thought I would. The art style is beautiful and complements the strong, well-told storyline. It’s full of vivid characters and each volume leaves you needing more. Volume three is my favorite so far, but every single one is an incredible work of art. If you haven’t given this series a try yet, you definitely need to!

What are your favorite graphic novels? Which ones would you recommend checking out? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

1Oct2015

October 2015 TBR

Posted in Wrap Ups And TBRs by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Yet another month has flown by!

Between the cooling weather, beautiful changing leaves, warm sweaters and boots, and pumpkins galore, October is my favorite month of the entire year. It is also the perfect time to curl up with a good (preferably dark or spooky) book. Fall always makes me feel particularly inspired to both read and work on my own writing; I get some of my best work done in these cooler months.

Since I am very much a mood reader, I find that I can never follow an exact reading list for a long period of time. For me, a TBR ends up being more of a guideline than something set in stone; a record of titles to help me prioritize my insanely massive collection of unread books.

I am still planning on finishing up a few that I did not get to last month, so I definitely will not be able to get to everything on this list. But these are the books that I am currently most eager to get to and/or really feeling in the mood to read, and I’m hoping to get to quite a few of them.

On a brief side note, I did not feel like I had enough to say in a wrap up this past month, so I plan on doing a dual one at the end of October!

The Reluctant Sacrifice by Kerr-Ann Dempster

This is the book that I am currently reading, so it will be my first read of the month. I was sent this book for review, and so far I’ve really been enjoying it. I plan on finishing it up in the next couple of days, and there will be a review going up on here very soon after!

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

This is a high priority read on my TBR for the month. I picked this book up and started it right when it was first released back in May. However, I ended up getting sidetracked with other books that I had either already started or was particularly excited to get to, so I ended up putting it aside for a while. Before that, I was really enjoying the story, so I would very much like to finish it up sometime this month.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

I find that, during the fall and winter, I tend to be particularly in the mood to read a good fantasy novel, as well as some lengthier books. This definitely falls into both of those categories. I have completely fallen in love with the television show over the past few months, and that has made me very motivated to read the actual novels themselves. So, between that and the weather, I am finally read to brave these 800+ pages! Or at least get started on them…

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

The Throne of Glass series is a series that I absolutely need to get started on! I’ve had this book for about a year now and I still have yet to get going on it. As I said, I’m definitely in the mood to read some fantasy right now, and this seems like it will be exactly what I am looking for. I have heard some mixed reviews about this first book, but overall positive thoughts about the series (so far) as a whole, so I am really hoping that I will enjoy these novels.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved a good retelling. The Wrath and the Dawn sounds as if it will be exactly that. I must admit I was a bit on the fence about it at first because, though retellings are wonderful, there have been a lot releasing lately and I’m finding that some of them are become too repetitive or generic. This one, however, I keep seeing and hearing almost solely positive reviews about, so I’m actually really looking forward to it, and I believe it will have that dark tone that I’m in the mood for this month.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

Vicious has been a high priority book for me ever since I first discovered it earlier this year, and it was at the top of my Fall TBR list. Nevertheless, somehow, I still have not yet gotten around to it. I’ve heard nothing but great things about this book and Victoria Schwab’s work in general, and I am absolutely determined to read this novel by the end of the month!

The Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero

This is a book that I have not heard much of anything about. I found it at the bookstore a few months back and the cover caught my eye instantly; it has a creepy, gothic type art style, which I love. As soon as I read the description, I thought it sounded like the kind of story I would enjoy, so I grabbed a copy, but I’ve been putting it off to use as an October/Halloween read. I’m definitely looking forward to finally getting to this novel and seeing what it’s all about.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

This is another book that I purchased a copy of a long time ago and have been saving to use as an October/Halloween read. I am a massive fan of Neil Gaiman; he is one of my all-time favorite authors and a huge inspiration to me in my own writing. This is one of the few novels by him that I have not read yet, and I am very eager to get into it. I know that I will love it and it will fit the season perfectly!

My Most Anticipated Releases of October:

Binge by Tyler Oakely

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Through the Dark by Alexandra Bracken

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

The Amazing Book is Not on Fire by Dan Howell and Phil Lester

What’s on your TBR for October, and what are you most looking forward to reading this month? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

30Sep2015

Top 5 Wednesday – September 30th, 2015

Posted in Top 5 Wednesday by TheQuirkyBookNerd

Since we are in the middle of Banned Books Week (September 27^th-October 3^rd), this week’s Top 5 Wednesday topic is the top 5 banned books you’ve read. I am extremely grateful to have grown up around people who love reading equally as much as I do, and who always encouraged me to read anything and everything.

And that is exactly what I did! During my childhood, I read any book I could get my hands on, and I still do that to this day. My reading has never been censored; therefore, I have read not only a lot of books in general, but also a lot of banned books. It was a hard list to narrow down, but here are some of my all-time favorite novels.

1984 by George Orwell

Banned/challenged for sexually explicit content and its social and political themes.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Banned/challenged for sexually explicit content and offensive language.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Banned/challenged for offensive language and violence.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Banned/challenged for occult/Satanism, violence, religious views, and for being anti-family.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Banned/challenged for offensive language and racism.

This is only a very small fraction of the long list of books that have been banned over the years. It is a shame to see so many beautiful and important books being challenged and banned. These are books that educate us and shape our world. These are books that captivate and inspire millions of people. So I encourage all of you to be a book rebel! Go pick up a banned book, this week and any week.

What banned books have you guys read? Let me know some of your favorites in the comments!

-Ariana

27Sep2015

Books I Can’t Believe I’ve Never Read

Posted in Miscellaneous by TheQuirkyBookNerd

At this point, I think the fact that I love making lists has been properly established. Let’s make another one!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about two things: books I have yet to read and the size of my TBR pile. I personally tend to take a lot of pride in the fact that I love to read and in the amount of books that I consume on a regular basis. I also enjoy the fact that I have a wide literary knowledge. As readers yourselves, I’m sure you know the feeling; each book read is like a new badge of honor we get to pin on our shirts.

And though it may seem silly, I think a lot of avid readers can identify with the slight feeling of pressure to read certain novels. These can either be novels that are considered to be “classics” and expected to be in the repertoire of any proclaimed bibliophile, or they can be novels that are simply wildly popular within the book community. Either way, we feel that, to fully embrace our bookishness, we should read these stories.

Truthfully, it’s completely ridiculous to feel pressured into reading something; there is absolutely no set of rules or reading requirements you have to meet to be a true booklover. But even though I don’t particularly feel like I have to read certain books, there are still a few I have been meaning to read and am totally ashamed, as a book nerd, that I haven’t yet.

Since my TBR has been getting out of control, I figured it was about time to take myself on a bit of a guilt trip. So today, I thought I would make up a list of the books that I can’t believe I haven’t read yet.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

Hitchcock is one of my favorite directors, and he made this classic story into an absolutely spectacular film (which I have seen far too many times to count). Even though I am definitely a hopeless romantic, when it comes to books, I tend to not be the biggest romance fan, or at least to be very picky about romance in novels. But this is one of my favorite romantic tales and I need to read it soon.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

This is a classic story and was one of my all-time favorite movies growing up. I finally bought myself a copy of this book, and am incredibly eager to read it. I can’t wait to see how the book compares to the movie, and to experience this story again in a whole new way.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I have actually not yet read a book by John Green. This is relatively awkward being an avid reader and a (ahem…quite frequent…) viewer of Youtube videos. Frankly, I think the main reason I haven’t gotten around to reading this yet is the daunting amount of mental and emotional preparation I will need to go through before doing so! In other words: I am not ready for the feels!

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

I am incredibly ashamed to admit that I have never read a book by J.R.R Tolkien, nor have I seen any of the Lord of the Rings or Hobbit films. As a fantasy lover and book/movie nerd, not to mention an aspiring author and filmmaker, I need to rectify this immediately!

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

This is an incredibly popular novel and one that I have been very interested to read for a while now. I know a bit about this man’s story, and what he experienced and survived during and after World War II is absolutely astonishing and inspiring. I know that this will be a difficult read, but I also think it is an extremely important read, and I hope to get to it soon.

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

I’ve already touched on my guilt about not having read this book in my last Top 10 Tuesday post, but I felt it still deserved to be put on this list. Though I’ve been interested to read this story for ages, I’ve never gotten around to picking it up. This is one that I hope to check off my reading list before the end of the year.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

This is a novel I really should have read already…because school! However, I ended up missing it due to changing schools between ninth and tenth grade. Even though I always hear very mixed opinions of it, this is definitely a story that sounds intriguing to me and I want to give it a try.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

This is another one that I somehow missed out on reading in school. As both a book lover and a writer, I’ve desperately wanted to read a Steinbeck novel for years now, but have not yet. Definitely high priority on my TBR.

Misery by Stephen King

Even though I have only read one book and a few short stories by him, Stephen King is a favorite author of mine, and a big inspiration for my own writing. This is another case of a book that I have not read that was a favorite movie of mine growing up. Misery is an absolutely fantastic story (and film), and it is completely outrageous that I haven’t gotten around to actually reading it yet!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This is by far the most embarrassing unread book that I have on my TBR. It was always an option on summer reading lists in my later years of school and I’ve seen the movie (yes, I saw it before reading the book. Bad Ari!), but I still have not read it. I do, however, leave it sitting among my other books in a way where I can easily see it every day and feel the shame. I am absolutely determined to get to this book before the end of the year!

What popular books have you been meaning to read but haven’t gotten around to yet? Do we have any in common? Let me know in the comments!

-Ariana

November TBR:

1. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

2. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

3. Beastly Bones by William Ritter

4. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

5. Saga, Volume 5 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

6-8. Doctor Who: Deep Time by Trevor Baxendale, Doctor Who: Death Riders by Justin Richards, and Doctor Who: System Wipe by Oli Smith

September/October Book Haul:

1. Beastly Bones by William Ritter

2. The Reluctant Sacrifice by Kerr-Ann Dempster

3. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

4. Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

5. The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

6. Doctor Who: Deep Time by Trevor Baxendale

7. Doctor Who: Death Riders by Justin Richards

8. Doctor Who: System Wipe by Oli Smith

Anticipated Releases of November:

1. Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairy Tales by Justin Richards (November 3rd)

2. Winter by Marissa Meyer (November 10th)

3. Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio (November 24th)

5. Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

4. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

3. The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe

2. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

1. The Shining by Stephen King

Part One: Fall/Halloween Reads

Part Two: Favorite Covers

How do you keep track of your TBR pile?

Is your TBR mostly print or e-book?

How do you determine which book from your TBR to read next?

A book that’s been on your TBR the longest?

A book you recently added to your TBR?

A book on your TBR strictly because of its beautiful cover?

A book on your TBR that you never plan on reading?

An unpublished book on your TBR that you’re excited for?

A book on your TBR that everyone has read but you?

A book on your TBR that everyone recommends to you?

A book on your TBR that you’re dying to read?

How many books are in your Goodreads TBR shelf?

I Tag:

Wish #1: The ability to read faster without my reading experience suffering.

Wish #2: For reading to have the same effects on my body as working out.

Wish #3: Immunity to reading slumps.

Wish #4: The ability to travel into any book world I want.

Wish #5: The chance to meet and talk shop with some of my favorite authors.

Wish #6: A few new collections of Sherlock Holmes short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Wish #7: The ability to stop time when I am reading.

Wish #8: My own personal multi-story library.

Wish #9: The chance to read my favorite books again for the first time.

Wish #10: To be able to bring my own writing to life for a living.

Diversity: Mental Illness

Diversity: Genetic Condition

Diversity: Ethnicity

Diversity: Cyborg/Ethnicity

Diversity: Ethnicity/Sexual Orientation

1. Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairy Tales by Justin Richards (November 3^rd)

2. Winter by Marissa Meyer (November 10^th)

3. Warren the 13^th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio (November 24^th)